Forest Whitaker's Winning Ways

Forest Whitaker, Oscar winner for his work in "The Last King of Scotland" arrives at the annual Vanity Fair Oscar party at Morton's in West Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 25, 2007.

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In "The Last King of Scotland" actor Forest Whitaker plays Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. He won a Golden Globe, a SAG award and, finally, the Academy Award.

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Forest Whitaker made an impressive transformation. In addition to wearing makeup, he also had to gain a significant amount of weight to play Idi Amin.

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Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker congratulate each other backstage at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Mirren won for outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role for "The Queen," and Whitaker for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for "The Last King of Scotland."

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Forest Whitaker posed with his wife, Keisha, at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The couple has four children: Ocean, Autumn, Sonnet, and True

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Forest Whitaker celebrates backstage at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, holding his award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for his work in "The Last King of Scotland."

Credit: AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Forest Whitaker poses with the award he won for best actor in a drama for his work in "The Last King of Scotland" at the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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Forest Whitaker, shown here at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, was born in eastern Texas but grew up in Los Angeles. He earned a college scholarship for football, but was sidelined by a back injury. That eventually led to his movie career.

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Forest Whitaker spoke at the National Film Theatre as part of The Times BFI London Film Festival. Whitaker is no stranger to the British. He played a British soldier in the film "The Crying Game."